freckles-第34部分

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swamp；　at　the　north　end；　and　lay　it　off　in　sections；　and　try　to

hunt　out　the　marked　trees。　　I　suppose　they　are　all　marked　something

like　that　first　maple　on　the　line　was。　　Wessner　mentioned　another

good　one　not　so　far　from　that。　　He　said　it　was　best　of　all。　　I'd　be

having　the　swelled　head　if　I　could　find　that。　　Of　course；　I　don't

know　a　thing　about　the　trees；　but　I　could　hunt　for　the　marks。　

Jack　was　so　good　at　it　he　could　tell　some　of　them　by　the　bark；　but　all

he　wanted　to　take　that　we've　found　so　far　have　just　had　a　deep　chip

cut　out；　rather　low　down；　and　where　the　bushes　were　thick　over　it。

I　believe　I　could　be　finding　some　of　them。〃



〃Good　head！〃　said　McLean。　　〃We　will　do　that。　　You　may　begin　as　soon

as　you　are　rested。　　And　about　things　you　come　across　in　the　swamp；

Frecklesthe　most　trifling　little　thing　that　you　think　the　Bird

Woman　would　want；　take　your　wheel　and　go　after　her　at　any　time。

I'll　leave　two　men　on　the　line；　so　that　you　will　have　one　on　either

side；　and　you　can　come　and　go　as　you　please。　　Have　you　stopped　to

think　of　all　we　owe　her；　my　boy？〃



〃Yis；　and　the　Angelwe　owe　her　a　lot；　too；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃I　owe

her　me　life　and　honor。　　It's　lying　awake　nights　I'll　have　to　be

trying　to　think　how　I'm　ever　to　pay　her　up。〃



〃Well；　begin　with　the　muff；〃　suggested　McLean。　　〃That　should　be　fine。〃



He　bent　down　and　ruffled　the　rich　fur　of　the　otter　lying　at　his　feet。



〃I　don't　exactly　see　how　it　comes　to　be　in　such　splendid　fur　in　summer。　

Their　coats　are　always　thick　in　cold　weather；　but　this　scarcely

could　be　improved。　　I'll　wire　Cooper　to　be　watching　for　it。

They　must　have　it　fresh。　　When　it's　tanned　we　won't　spare　any

expense　in　making　it　up。　　It　should　be　a　royal　thing；　and　some　way

I　think　it　will　exactly　suit　the　Angel。　　I　can't　think　of　anything

that　would　be　more　appropriate　for　her。〃



〃Neither　can　I；〃　agreed　Freckles　heartily。　　〃When　I　reach　the　city

there's　one　other　thing；　if　I've　the　money　after　the　muff　is　finished。〃



He　told　McLean　of　Mrs。　Duncan's　desire　for　a　hat　similar　to

the　Angel's。　　He　hesitated　a　little　in　the　telling；　keeping　sharp

watch　on　McLean's　face。　　When　he　saw　the　Boss's　eyes　were　full　of

comprehension　and　sympathy；　he　loved　him　anew；　for；　as　ever；　McLean

was　quick　to　understand。　　Instead　of　laughing；　he　said：　　〃I　think

you'll　have　to　let　me　in　on　that；　too。　　You　mustn't　be　selfish；

you　know。　　I'll　tell　you　what　we'll　do。　　Send　it　for　Christmas。　

I'll　be　home　then；　and　we　can　fill　a　box。　　You　get　the　hat。　

I'll　add　a　dress　and　wrap。　　You　buy　Duncan　a　hat　and　gloves。　

I'll　send　him　a　big　overcoat；　and　we'll　put　in　a　lot　of　little

stuff　for　the　babies。　　Won't　that　be　fun？〃



Freckles　fairly　shivered　with　delight。



〃That　would　be　away　too　serious　for　fun；〃　he　said。　　〃That　would

be　heavenly。　　How　long　will　it　be？〃



He　began　counting　the　time；　and　McLean　deliberately　set　himself　to

encourage　Freckles　and　keep　his　thoughts　from　the　trouble　of　the

past　few　days；　for　he　had　been　overwrought　and　needed　quiet　and　rest。







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XV



　　　Wherein　Freckles　and　the　Angel　Try　Taking　a　Picture；　and　Little

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chicken　Furnishes　the　Subject



A　week　later　everything　at　the　Limberlost　was　precisely　as　it　had

been　before　the　tragedy；　except　the　case　in　Freckles'　room　now

rested　on　the　stump　of　the　newly　felled　tree。　　Enough　of　the　vines

were　left　to　cover　it　prettily；　and　every　vestige　of　the　havoc　of

a　few　days　before　was　gone。　　New　guards　were　patrolling　the　trail。

Freckles　was　roughly　laying　off　the　swamp　in　sections　and　searching

for　marked　trees。　　In　that　time　he　had　found　one　deeply　chipped　and

the　chip　cunningly　replaced　and　tacked　in。　　It　promised　to　be　quite

rare；　so　he　was　jubilant。　　He　also　found　so　many　subjects　for　the

Bird　Woman　that　her　coming　was　of　almost　daily　occurrence；　and　the

hours　he　spent　with　her　and　the　Angel　were　nothing　less　than　golden。



The　Limberlost　was　now　arrayed　as　the　Queen　of　Sheba　in　all　her　glory。　

The　first　frosts　of　autumn　had　bejewelled　her　crown　in　flashing

topaz；　ruby；　and　emerald。　　Around　her　feet　trailed　the　purple

of　her　garments；　while　in　her　hand　was　her　golden　scepter。

Everything　was　at　full　tide。　　It　seemed　as　if　nothing　could　grow

lovelier；　and　it　was　all　standing　still　a　few　weeks；　waiting

coming　destruction。



The　swamp　was　palpitant　with　life。　　Every　pair　of　birds　that　had

flocked　to　it　in　the　spring　was　now　multiplied　by　from　two　to　ten。

The　young　were　tame　from　Freckles'　tri…parenthood；　and　so　plump　and

sleek　that　they　were　quite　as　beautiful　as　their　elders；　even　if　in

many　cases　they　lacked　their　brilliant　plumage。　　It　was　the　same

story　of　increase　everywhere。　　There　were　chubby　little　ground…hogs

scudding　on　the　trail。　　There　were　cunning　baby　coons　and　opossums

peeping　from　hollow　logs　and　trees。　　Young　muskrats　followed　their

parents　across　the　lagoons。



If　you　could　come　upon　a　family　of　foxes　that　had　not　yet

disbanded；　and　see　the　young　playing　with　a　wild　duck's　carcass

that　their　mother　had　brought；　and　note　the　pride　and　satisfaction

in　her　eyes　as　she　lay　at　one　side　guarding　them；　it　would　be　a

picture　not　to　be　forgotten。　　Freckles　never　tired　of　studying　the

devotion　of　a　fox　mother　to　her　babies。　　To　him；　whose　early　life

had　been　so　embittered　by　continual　proof　of　neglect　and　cruelty　in

human　parents　toward　their　children；　the　love　of　these　furred　and

feathered　folk　of　the　Limberlost　was　even　more　of　a　miracle　than　to

the　Bird　Woman　and　the　Angel。



The　Angel　liked　the　baby　rabbits　and　squirrels。　　Earlier　in　the

season；　when　the　young　were　yet　very　small；　it　so　happened　that　at

times　Freckles　could　give　into　her　hands　one　of　these　little　ones。

Then　it　was　pure　joy　to　stand　back　and　watch　her　heaving　breast；

flushed　cheek；　and　shining　eyes。　　Hers　were　such　lovely　eyes。

Freckles　had　discovered　lately　that　they　were　not　so　dark　as　he　had

thought　them　at　first；　but　that　the　length　and　thickness　of　lash；

by　which　they　were　shaded；　made　them　appear　darker　than　they　really

were。　　They　were　forever　changing。　　Now　sparkling　and　darkling　with

wit；　now　humid　with　sympathy；　now　burning　with　the　fire　of　courage；

now　taking　on　strength　of　color　with　ambition；　now　flashing

indignantly　at　the　abuse　of　any　creature。



She　had　carried　several　of　the　squirrel　and　bunny　babies　home；　and

had　littered　the　conservatory　with　them。　　Her　care　of　them　was　perfect。　

She　was　learning　her　natural　history　from　nature；　and　having　much

healthful　exercise。　　To　her；　they　were　the　most　interesting　of　all；

but　the　Bird　Woman　preferred　the　birds；　with　a　close　second　in　the

moths　and　butterflies。



Brown　butterfly　time　had　come。　　The　edge　of　the　swale　was　filled

with　milkweed；　and　other　plants　beloved　of　them；　and　the　air　was

golden　with　the　flashing　satin　wings　of　the　monarch；　viceroy；

and　argynnis。　　They　outnumbered　those　of　any　other　color　three　to　one。



Among　the　birds　it　really　seemed　as　if　the　little　yellow　fellows

were　in　the　preponderance。　　At　least；　they　were　until　the　redwinged

blackbirds　and　bobolinks；　that　had　nested　on　the　upland；　suddenly

saw　in　the　swamp　the　garden　of　the　Lord　and　came　swarming　by　hundreds

to　feast　and　adventure　upon　it　these　last　few　weeks　before　migration。　

Never　was　there　a　finer　feast　spread　for　the　birds。　　The　grasses

were　filled　with　seeds：　so；　too；　were　weeds　of　every　variety。　

Fall　berries　were　ripe。　　Wild　grapes　and　black　haws　were　ready。　

Bugs　were　creeping　everywhere。　　The　muck　was　yeasty　with　worms。　

Insects　filled　the　air。　　Nature　made　glorious　pause　for　holiday

before　her　next　change；　and　by　none　of　the　frequenters　of　the

swamp　was　this　more　appreciated　than　by　the　big　black　chickens。



They　seemed　to　feel　the　new　reign　of　peace　and　fullness　most　of　all。　

As　for　food；　they　did　not　even　have　to　hunt　for　themselves　these

days；　for　the　feasts　now　being　spread　before　Little　Chicken

were　more　than　he　could　use；　and　he　was　glad　to　have　his　parents

come　down　and　help　him。



He　was　a　fine；　big；　overgrown　fellow；　and　his　wings；　with　quills　of

jetty　black；　gleaming　with　bronze；　were　so　strong　they　almost

lifted　his　body。　　He　had　three　inches　of　tail；　and　his　beak　and

claws　were　sharp。　　His　muscles　began　to　clamor　for　exercise。　

He　raced　the　forty　feet　of　his　home　back　and　forth　many　times　every

hour　of　the　day。　　After　a　few　days　of　that；　he　began　lifting　and

spreading　his　wings；　and　flopping　them　until　the　down　on　his　back

was　filled　with　elm　fiber。　　Then　he　commenced　jumping。　　The　funny

little　hops；　springs；　and　sidewise　bounds　he　gave　set　Freckles　and

the　Angel；　hidden　in　the　swamp；　watching　him；　into　smothered

chuckles　of　delight。



Sometimes　he　fell　to　coquetting　with　himself；　and　that　was　the

funniest　thing　of　all；　for　he　turned　his　head　up；　down；　from　side

to　side；　and　drew　in　his　chin　with　prinky　little　jerks　and　tilts。

He　would　stretch　his　neck；　throw　up　his　head；　turn　it　to　one　side

and　smirkactually　smirk；　the　most　complacent　and　self…satisfied

smirk　that　anyone　ever　saw　on　the　face　of　a　bird。　　It　was　so　comical

that　Freckles　and　the　Angel　told　the　Bird　Woman　of　it　one　day。



When　she　finished　her　work　on　Little　Chicken；　she　left　them　the

camera　ready　for　use；　telling　them　they　might　hide　in　the　bushes

and　watch。　　If　Little　Chicken　came　out　and　truly　smirked；　and　they

could　squeeze　the　bulb　at　the　proper　moment　to　snap　him；　she　would

be　more　than　delighted。



Freckles　and　the　Angel　quietly　curled　beside　a　big　log；　and　with

eager　eyes　and　softest　breathing　they　patiently　waited；　but　Little

Chicken　had　feasted　before　they　told　of　his　latest　accomplishment。

He　was　tired　and　sleepy；　so　he　went　into　the　log　to　bed；　and　for　an

hour　he　never　stirred。



They　were　becoming　anxious；　for　the　light　soon　would　be　gone；　and

they　had　so　wanted　to　try　for　the　picture。　　At　last